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200 and counting: Global financial institutions are exiting coal
The report highlights that over 200 major financial institutions have established coal exclusion policies, with Europe leading (114 institutions) followed by Asia-Pacific (53 institutions). Despite record coal company profits during the energy crisis, divestment momentum has accelerated in the past two years, driven by climate action and recognition of climate risk as a systemic financial […]
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Boost for Green Bonds
The article discusses SEBI’s revised regulations for green debt securities, highlighting key improvements that align with global green finance guidelines. The most significant change is the mandatory requirement for independent third-party reviewers/certifiers for both pre- and post-green bond issuance, which exceeds International Capital Market Association (ICMA) recommendations. The guidelines require alignment with international green taxonomies, […]
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Repurposing India’s coal power plants: Sustainability-linked green bonds as a financing solution
The article proposes sustainability-linked green bonds (SLGBs) as a solution for India to balance its growing energy needs with climate goals while addressing the sensitive issue of coal power plant retirement. It suggests that private utilities controlling 35% (73 GW) of India’s coal capacity could use SLGBs to finance the repurposing of coal plants into […]
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How to mobilise green finance for Indian micro, small and medium enterprises
The article discusses how India’s 63 million MSMEs, which contribute 30% of GDP and consume 20-25% of industrial energy, struggle to access financing for decarbonization despite high energy costs (10-30% of production costs). It proposes a green finance platform governed by SIDBI to help MSMEs access green bond capital, leveraging SIDBI’s AAA credit rating and […]
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Assessing the decarbonisation pathways of India’s power sector giants
The report examines how NTPC and Tata Power need massive capital to transform into clean energy companies, requiring access to foreign capital markets through sustainability-linked bonds and loans. To achieve India’s 2070 net-zero target, which needs US$10.1 trillion (with US$8.4 trillion for the energy sector alone), these companies must establish science-based emissions reduction frameworks. Currently, […]
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Indian financial system needs a green taxonomy for resilience to climate risks
The article argues that India needs a green taxonomy to address two major issues in sustainable finance markets: capital not reaching needed assets and greenwashing. With banks holding US$2.5 trillion in assets and insurance companies managing Rs49 trillion (US$636 billion), India’s financial institutions need clear guidelines to assess climate risks and align investments with sustainability […]
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Climate Finance Professional Interview
By: The Interview Portal The Interview Portal profiles Saurabh Trivedi, a Climate Finance professional whose career journey demonstrates how paths may change while keeping one’s vision intact. The interview reveals how Saurabh, originally from Mahoba in Uttar Pradesh’s Bundelkhand region, transformed from an aspiring IAS officer to a climate finance expert. Saurabh completed his B.Tech […]
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Asia Energy Security and Transition Cooperation Forum (AESTCF), Beijing
Saurabh Trivedi, CPI India’s Senior Analyst was one of the panelists at the session on ‘Energy Production and New Technologies’ at the Asia Energy Security and Transition Cooperation Forum (AESTCF) in Beijing from 13 to 14 September, 2018. The theme of the forum was Vision and Practice of Energy Security and Transition in Asia. Entrusted […]
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Battery Subscription Facility
The Battery Subscription Facility is a conceptual financial instrument designed to address key barriers to electric bus adoption in India. The proposed mechanism would reduce upfront costs by 40-50% through a battery-as-a-service model, where the Facility would own batteries while bus operators subscribe to their use on a daily or per-kilometer basis. If implemented, this […]
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Scaling up Rooftop Solar Power in India: The Potential of Solar Municipal Bonds
India aims for a renewable energy target of 175 GW by 2022, including 40 GW from rooftop solar, requiring an estimated USD 39 billion to achieve, with only 1.25 GW currently installed. This paper, developed by Climate Policy Initiative (CPI), Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), and ICRIER, proposes using municipal bonds to finance rooftop solar projects. […]